# NTSB ERA24LA355: Yates Elden H Avipro Bearhawk, N652BH, Roxbury, ME, August 14, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 14, 2024, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Roxbury, ME - Coordinates: 44.664117, -70.587883 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6641&lon=-70.5879&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 194975 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA355 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194975/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194975 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA355 ## Probable cause The pilot’s unstable approach which resulted in a landing with insufficient runway remaining to stop and subsequent impact with a river embankment. Contributing was the engine coolant system anomaly. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Yates Elden H AVIPRO BEARHAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056239L), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Yates Elden H AVIPRO BEARHAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=056239L), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng liquid cooling](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058570): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Yates Elden H AVIPRO BEARHAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058570/cases.md?model=056239L), [All aircraft, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058570/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150); cases with it: [Yates Elden H AVIPRO BEARHAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=056239L), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Yates Elden H AVIPRO BEARHAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=056239L), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Yates Elden H AVIPRO BEARHAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056239L), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that after takeoff he climbed and proceeded to complete a circuit of the airport traffic pattern. While in the traffic pattern, he saw a puff of white smoke, indicative of burned coolant, near the rudder pedals and he elected to perform a precautionary landing. On approach to the runway the pilot was above the glide path but he elected to continue the approach. During the landing flare the engine lost power completely, and the airplane continued to float about ¾ of the way down the runway before touching down. As the airplane approached the end of the runway the pilot elected to force a “ground loop” to prevent the airplane from exiting the runway and going into a river. A postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector found substantial damage to the fuselage from impact with the river embankment. The FAA inspector also noted that there was residual coolant in the cowling. The pilot reported that there was also residual coolant around the radiator cap. The pilot speculated that the automotive, rotary engine’s the rotor coolant seal may have been compromised, which allowing air from compression to enter the coolant system, and resulted in an over pressurization of this system and subsequent coolant expulsion through the radiator cap. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N652BH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N652BH), registered now, S/N 020-27/28-652, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: YATES ELDEN H AVIPRO BEARHAWK - Registry model: [Yates Elden H AVIPRO BEARHAWK](https://openairdocs.org/model/yates-elden-h-avipro-bearhawk) (registry code 056239L) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Mazda 13B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/mazda-13b) (registry code 43200, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 020-27/28-652 - Year built: 2008 - Airframe hours: 16.2 - Engines: MAZDA 13B 146 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 23, 2024 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: ME17, Thomas, runway 01, 1,800 × 75 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; flight hours: 250.2 total, 16.2 in this make and model, 193.3 as pilot in command, 0 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Icing: Unknown - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: 8B0, 20 nm away - METAR: K8B0 141515Z AUTO 18003KT 10SM SCT036 22/15 A3010 RMK AO2 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20240814010139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240814010139A), Aug 14, 2024: Yates Elden H AVIPRO BEARHAWK, Roxbury, ME, Substantial damage. On 08/14/2024 at approximately 1100 hours (et), a bearhawk, experimental, single engine airplane was being piloted at ME17 (Thomas Airport) in Roxbury, ME. The… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 31, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194975. 982 KB in all. - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 1, PDF, 2 pages, 94 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17714039&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Pilot%20interview-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� FAA email statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17715329&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Photographs (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 818 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17713790&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA355%20Photo%20Array%20-Rel.pdf From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.